Petunia. 67 



PETUNIA— THE PETUNIA. 



Natural Order, Solanaces. Linnsean Class, Pentandria. Order, Monogy- 

 nia. Generic Distinctions : — segments of the calyx, foliaceous, spatulate ; 

 corolla, with a short tube, and a dilated, rather unequal limb. Stamens, 

 unequal, enclosed. 



p. nyctaginiflora. Diffuse, clothed with clammy hairs ; lower leaves alter- 

 nate, ovate, obtuse, hairy; Floral leaves, sessile, cord ate- ovate, opposite. 

 Flowers on peduncles, axillary. Tube of the corolla, three or four times 

 longer than the calyx. {PI. 13. Fig. 1.) 



P. phanicea. Prostrate, clothed with hairs. Leaves, ovate, on short petioles, 

 acute. Corolla, ventricose, with ovate, acute segments. Flowers, soli- 

 tary, axillary, pedunculate. (PL 13. Fig. 2.) 



The plants of this genus are ornamental annuals, and are 

 <rreat favorites wherever they are cultivated. The generic, 

 name is from Petun, the Brazilian word for Tobacco. Theie 

 are several species, which are very generally esteemed in the 

 flower garden. The two in our engraving are, perhaps, the 

 most beautiful and the most commonly cultivated. The white 

 Petunia was discovered near the mouth of the Rio de la Plata, 

 and seeds of it were first sent to Europe in 1823. It was 

 found to be quite hardy, and to grow well as a border flower, 

 in the open air, and from its beauty and the little trouble re- 

 quired in its management, became at once an object of favor 

 among florists. The soil which it requires is a peat or sandy 

 loam, and it must be watered frequently, as the roots are apt 

 to wither if allowed to become dry. 



The Purple Petunia is a more showy and highly colored 

 species, and although it was unknown in England until 1830, 

 and flowered there for the first time in 1831, it has already a 

 place in every garden there. It was discovered on the banks 

 of the river Uruguay in Buenos Ayres. It grows equally well 

 in the open air and in a green house, and as long as its fine 

 vein-like roots are kept moist and allowed to grow in light fine 

 soil, without too much wet, it may be trained in almost any 

 form, and is sure to reward its possessor with a profusion of 

 its large dark purple blossoms. It is generally trained against 

 a wire frame, or over an open bed ; or the seeds may be sown 



